Chapter 6: Mang long

Jerry was awakened by the sound of a squirrel climbing down a tree, using its hands and claws to explore the crevices in the bark as it went down the tree.

 He yawned, stretched his arms out, and inhaled the air. He added:

 "Smells like a beautiful morning to me," he turned his head upward; his senses and body senses told him that the presence of darkness was still in play, but he had a hunch that it was morning between 05h00 and 06h00, but he needed to be certain.

He freed himself from the tree with delicate movements, using the cane to gently slow his drop. He made it to the leaf-covered ground uninjured and landed quickly. He used his cane to locate the trolley and rummaged through the bag to uncover a small clock with no covering to keep the hands from being damaged or tampered with. He used his finger to softly feel where the second counting hand was moving near the six.

 Second hand: roughly 30 seconds.

Little hand: toward the nine, indicating approximately 45 minutes or quarter to.

 Big hand: approaching four, which means it's still 4 a.m. but will soon be 5.

 Jerry recorded the time as:

 "04H45S34 seconds give or take"

 Jerry nodded and placed the clock away, then took out a pocket compass in the same condition as the clock. He was able to use it to identify true north and see where the route was going.

Jerry relied on asking for directions, especially from helpful people like Mary and Allie, because he couldn't read maps due to his lack of sight. Jerry smiled and shook his head as he reminded himself:

 "They will be fine, if they are ever in trouble Allie and Mary know what to do and what to chant to get my attention anyway in the world and I will be there soon as possible."

Jerry took a meditative state and entered his mind space.

"Ancestors of dark cloud mist temple, I seek an audience with master Wu long of the hazing mist"

 The room was quiet as it surged with tremor as the mist gathered in one location and slowly formed an individual wearing a straw hat and kimono, folding his hands in the sleeves: his aura exuded mystery, power, and calmness. The man appeared to be in his late sixties, with closed eyelids and a thin white beard; his head was bare of hair.

The old guy then spoke with amazing lucidity and wisdom:

 "You seek guidance young lotus?"

 Jerry bowed down, his hand on the ground in front of him.

 "Yes," he said.

 The old man said:

 "Tell me young lotus, why should I entertain the thought of giving guidance to undisciplined youngling that killed his masters and kin a like?"

"Master, while my acts appear cruel and unredeemable to the ancestor, they would be justified if I had not witnessed the impending disaster and heard the whispers of corruption. My people, the blessed of the gods and humanity, would have been exterminated as a testament to the power of martial prowess and perseverance. The damage would have been irrevocable, much as the sight they took from my primary body."

 The elderly man groaned and added:

"So, our great-grandfather's inheritance has been destroyed, and no blood remains to make us whole. The dark mist teachings and riches are gone, consumed by your rage and treason."

 "Master I can explain-"

 "Enough!" The old guy stomped his foot on the ground, causing the area to shake and Jerry to feel a severe pain in his chest. The elderly man then appeared to kneel down on one knee and stare at Jerry.

Jerry did not look the master in the eye, but Mang Long (1) grinned and said:

 "Those blinded by retribution, like you, young Lotus, will seek pardon for their transgressions. So, educate me. Why do your eyes, which you claim to have lost, contain knowledge of my sect? "Who punished you?

 Jerry responded:

 "Master Durn and High realm Master Lee, I will not forgive them for their deeds, nor will I apologize for mine. They deserved what was coming to them.

Mang Long stood up and put his hands behind his back, the old man didn't possess sight in the afterlife yet carries presence that felt like it could see Jerry inner most thoughts and secrets with just words alone. 

Jerry recognized that this was a mist-based method called presence awareness, which allows you to borrow the senses of nature that surrounds you. Jerry called Mang Long, his temple's oldest grandfather, and all he had to do was persuade the master to teach him this relied upon technique.

 Jerry was still powerful in the augmenting component of mist martial arts despite the loss of his eyes. All Jerry had to do was persuade the ancestor to teach him the power, but something about Mang Long's statement bothered him.

 'Why do your eyes, which you claim to have lost, contain knowledge of my sect?'

"What eyes, where they used to live, there was nothing but empty space." Despite its hollowness, this was where his ability was focused. To activate it, he had to remove the blindfold, which acts as both a suppressor and an accelerant to his strength when worn after gathering energy for an attack or defense.

 Mang Long then stood up; Jerry did not glance up, but if he had, he would have seen the master smiling. He asked:

 "Tell me something Lotus, before you lost your sight have you read the Blind principles of six written by me?"

Jerry replied sincerely:

 "Our sect burn almost every record of the knowledge to attain power by sacrificing the given sense Master Mang Long"

 "I am aware, yet you did not respond to my question, Lotus. Answer what you are asked to answer."

 Jerry took a deep breath and searched his memories for a moment. When he discovered the answer, he added:

 "Yes"

"Good, Lotus, I'll get to the point; I'll attack your body with the scroll's tactics. Your goal is to remember the specified concept while I show you the procedures; if you get them right, I will forgive your blatant extermination of my sect's children."

 Jerry remained kneeling and replied, "Yes, Master Mang Long."

 Mang Long added:

 "Excellent, my principles explain them"

Before Jerry could respond to the inquiry, he was pushed back by a powerful aura that made him feel as if he was staring at an awakened beast.

 He was able to use his hands planted on the ground to keep himself from moving too far. The aura formed about the master as it gathered and sculpted the mist, eventually revealing a dark red blade, double-edged straight sword.

 Jerry watched as the mist coalesced and formed a rapier in his hand. He took a guarded stance and prepared for the master's strike while reciting teachings from master Mang Long's book.